Check out an awesome giveaway from MJ and Piper in celebration of the upcoming release of The Luckiest: http://mjandpiper.blogspot.com/2012/03/giveaway-its-time-to-get-lucky-again.html?zx=b32663719ea975e5

I have just learned that Shana Galen will be coming out with a sequel to Lord and Lady Spy, wonderful historical romp through London. True Spies is due out in Fall 2013. Since that is such a long wait,  I am sharing a review for Lord and Lady Spy I posted on GoodReads. Enjoy!

Favorite quote: How could his breath on her skin feel so good? And wouldn’t he find her utterly ridiculous if she were to ask him to simply breathe all over her? I have to admit, it was the cover that caught my attention on this book. Usually when that happens, it’s the man – his bare chest, muscled arms, smoldering eyes - but in this case, it was the Lady of the title. Most Regency novels feature fawning, fainting women just waiting to be ravished. On Lord and Lady Spy, the Lady in question is standing on a case of dynamite, chest pushed out, a look of defiance on her face. This woman is ready to take on not only her Lord but the world. (The Lord is quite good looking, as well, posed with his pistol.) Both Lord and Lady Smythe are spies employed by the Barbican Agency, an off-shoot of Her Majesty’s Foreign Office. Married out of duty, neither has a clue that the other is working for the same agency. They have each kept their covers superbly maintained – he works in his library and goes off to the club, leaving town on business quite often, she has her charitable works and wears high-necked gowns and glasses to maintain a mousey appearance (and leaves town on business quite often, unbeknownst to him). Early in the book, each is let go from the agency – no longer necessary, they are told, now that Napoleon has been captured. Soon, though, they are each given another chance through a secret meeting. After a brief scuffle, they recognize each other – and then the fun begins. Lord and Lady Smythe are both hired by the Prime Minister to find his brother’s killer. The first one to uncover the murderer retains his or her job at the Barbican Agency. After a rough start, the two decide to work together, albeit each has plans to discover the killer and claim the reward on their own. Right from the outset we can see the marriage is strained. Neither really knows each other due to so much separation during their marriage. They have also lost three children during pregnancy, something else that affects their relationship. But as they work together to solve the mystery, they see each other in a new light and their relationship grows. At the same time, there are trust issues due to circumstances from their past – the murder of her brother and the betrayal of his father. Not only did I fall in love with the cover, I fell in love with the book and Lord and Lady Smythe. This one gets five stars.

This is the fourth installment of the Mahu series (although there is a book of short stories called Mahu Men which takes place between Mahu Surfer and Mahu Vice.) This was a hard book to start. When I read through the first few paragraphs I was in shock. Kimo and Mike had split up? WHAT???


Then something horrible happens - the very first building Kimo's father ever built on his own has burned down and arson is discovered. Now Kimo must work with Fire Inspector and ex-boyfriend Mike Riccardi to find out who set the fire and why.


In typical Plakcy formula, the plot thickens and twists throughout the book, as does the relationship between Kimo and Mike. While both of the men have their issues (and they are not necessarily easy ones to deal with), they still have to work together; but there is a wall of tension, anger, hurt, and humiliation between them. Even though I was heartbroken to find out they had split up, I couldn't put the book down as I read chapter after chapter into the night. 


As I always remind you, if you're looking at this for a first Plakcy/Mahu read, go back to the first book in the series and read through them in order. That way you don't miss out on anything!

First off, I absolutely <i>love</i> the Mahu series. I love that it takes place where I live and I know the streets and the beaches mentioned in the books. I love the way the detective, Kimo Kanapa'aka, has developed from being closeted (even to himself) to mentoring gay kids (as well as other adults). But I only sometimes love the way his relationships go. This book helps on that score.


Mahu Men is a series of short stories that tell us about Kimo's sex life. There are a couple of mysteries but for the most part, this is the part of his life we don't see in the Mahu books. And he really does have a great sex life! These stories take place between Mahu Fire and Manu Vice, while Kimo and his lover, Mike, are broken up. He is despondent and takes on a new partner (a straight, married man who, happily, doesn't mind that Kimo is gay) and a lot of one night stands.


If you, like me, want to see more of a sex life for Kimo, then this is your book.

In the third Mahu installment, Kimo finally meets someone he can have a real relationship with! Yes, I'm excited for him!


While at a fundraiser for Hawaiian Gay Marriage, a bomb goes off and sets the building on fire. Kimo and his friends and family are all there but make it safely out. The only casualty is the Vice-Mayor, which puts this case on the hot-plate, so to speak. Fire Investigator Mike Riccardi (hot, hot, hot) arrives shortly thereafter and together with Kimo, investigates the trail of the bomb. They get together often - over dinner, drinks, and the burnt out building - to discuss the case and find they have a lot in common, including the fact that they're both gay and find each other attractive.


That's all I'll give away about the book (there's so much more, trust me), but I will tell you that I absolutely <i>love</i> the pairing of Kimo and Mike. The only thing I'm iffy about is Mike's mustache. I'm just not a 'stache girl. Mike does have his issues but it seems he is overcoming those and I really look forward to see how this relationship is played out.


Fires are burning all over the island, but none are as hot as the one between Kimo and Mike! (Oh, so corny but it had to be said!) Start the series with Mahu and Mahu Surfer and you'll see why Kimo is such a great character and Neil S. Plakcy such a great writer.

In the second installment of the Mahu series, Honolulu Police Detective Kimo Kanapa'aka is sent to the North Shore to uncover the mystery of three surfers who have been shot. It's not so much that he's a great detective - it's because he's gay and his coming out made him big news in Honolulu (thanks to his brother's television station) and now most of the police force doesn't want to work with him. Besides, he can surf and so he'll fit in with the people there.


Kimo is in fine form here - investigating the murders, surfing the waves, and having sex with, well, several men. He even gets his first taste of a threesome - and that alone is worth the price of admission folks. 


But, as always, the writing is great and the mystery is even better. (Even I didn't guess this one.) If you haven't started with Mahu, go back to the beginning. You'll be glad you did!

Mahu by Neil S. Plakcy

Mahu is the first in a series featuring police detective Kimo Kanapa'aka. Kimo is the first in the Honolulu Police Department to come out of the closet - and he didn't even want to. I love the character Plakcy has created. He's got a nice body - tall, tan, muscled and (even if he does say so himself) a nice face. Kimo is just another guy trying to hold onto his life through a series of misadventures. That guy just happens to be gay (even though he tries to deny it).


What I really love about Kimo is that in between chasing down leads and running away from sex he's afraid to have (because that will mean he really is gay), he surfs. He surfs Waikiki and the North Shore. Having recently moved to Oahu, I have been learning all about the beaches and "primo" surf spots through these books. 


But Kimo isn't the only one to love. Plakcy has also created a wonderful set of background characters for Kimo from his loving parents and brothers to the gay men he meets to the "uncle" in the Chinese Tong. Kimo plays off all of them deftly and with sincerity.

This is a great mystery and a fun read. Kudos to Neil S. Plakcy for coming up with the wonderful character of Kimo Kanapa'aka!